BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo’s waterfront is set to receive $10 million in federal funding to improve transportation on foot, bike and rail.

What You Need To Know

  • Buffalo's waterfront is set to receive $10 million in federal funding to transform the Riverline project, invest in local electric buses, build greenways and reconnect neighborhoods to the waterfront

  • $900,000 is set to go to the Riverline project

  • More than $5 million is set to go toward NFTA electric bus charging stations and revamping its fleet

  • An additional $3 million will help improve walkability with a skybridge and riverwalk upgrades

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer joined Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Brian Higgins at the DL&W Terminal near the corner of Ohio St. and Michigan Ave. to detail the plan.

“It’ll let the crown jewel of the Queen City, our beautiful waterfront, shine ever brighter,” said Schumer.

He said the funding will cover projects that will create union jobs, reconnect previously separated parts of downtown Buffalo and make the area more accessible.

Part one of the facelift involves putting $900,000 into the Riverline project, which will transform an unused 1.5-mile, 40-acre railroad corridor into a greenway to connect Buffalo’s downtown and waterfront. Then, $1,760,000 will go toward new NFTA electric bus charging infrastructure, and an additional $4,844,000 in a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will revamp existing buses.

“We have to continue to invest in the NFTA to ensure they can modernize, incorporate more green energy and meet the transit needs of today and tomorrow,” said Gillibrand.

NFTA will also invest $2 million in improving bicycle and pedestrian travel, including a skybridge that will connect pedestrians from the metro rail terminus to KeyBank Center.